Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

At Tengu Square, Shido stood near the fountain, checking his phone from time to time. He was currently dressed in a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of dark jeans, trying for a balance of casual and presentable.

The weather was perfect for a date. The sun was shining brightly in the clear sky, making everything look warm and cheerful. Today was the day Shido had promised to take Tohka on a proper date to make up for sealing her Spirit powers last time without even taking her out on a proper date.

It was Saturday today and the square bustled with life. Couples strolled arm in arm, families took pictures, and children played around the fountain.

Vendors called out enthusiastically to advertise their goods, filling the air with the aroma of freshly baked bread, sizzling skewers, and sweet desserts. Shido absently tugged at his shirt collar.

Shido thought about how they might run into their classmates. He didn't really mind, but he knew they'd probably make a big fuss if they saw him and Tohka together, especially since Tohka was so innocent and jumped to conclusions easily.

To avoid misleading situation, Shido had asked Kotori to let him know if any familiar faces were nearby.

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a cheerful voice coming from the side.

"Shido!"

Turning toward the direction of the voice, he saw Tohka waving happily as she ran toward him. Although they lived in the same house, they'd left at different time to make it feel more like a real date.

As Tohka closed the distance, Shido's gaze softened. When Shido saw her up close, he couldn't help but feel a little stunned by her beauty. Tohka was wearing a simple pink blouse with frilly details and shorts, which made her look youthful and vibrant.

Completely different from her usual Spirit form, where she was always dressed in her heavy armor with a domineering presence surrounding her.

Tohka stopped in front of him, smiling brightly. "Shido, I'm not late, am I?"

"No, you're just on time. There's still ten minutes before the agreed time." Shido pointed to the large clock nearby.

"I'm glad."

Both of them had arrived early. He took another glance at Tohka's profile, admiring her from head to toe.

"Tohka, you look really cute today."

Hearing his sincere praise, Tohka scratched her head shyly. "I-Is that so? I'm glad, then."

After a moment of silence, her excitement bubbled over. "Now, Shido, show me this 'date' you've been talking about!" she exclaimed, pulling his hand eagerly.

"Okay, okay, let's go." Shido said with a laugh.

"Yay!"

...

Meanwhile, on Fraxinus…

"Commander," Kannazuki said, looking at one of the monitors. "Some of his classmates are nearby the area."

Kotori glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the trio, Ai, Mai, and Mii. Not too far away was Tonomachi. But the most concerning one was Origami, who was out shopping.

Kotori's eye twitched when she noticed the specific store Origami had entered a blatantly adult store.

"What the heck is that girl doing? Does this girl ever do anything normal?" Kotori rubbed her temples. Origami was talented, smart, and infuriatingly unpredictable. However, seeing how far Origami was from Shido and Tohka's location, Kotori relaxed. 

"As long as she doesn't bump into them, everything should be fine."

"Even if they run into each other, Shido can handle it himself. Probably."

...

Back at Tengu Square…

Tohka and Shido wandered through the lively market area, where stalls lined the streets, offering food and trinkets of all kinds. Tohka's eyes darted around with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. She tugged on Shido's sleeve.

"Shido, are we being ambushed?" she whispered seriously, her gaze scanning the crowd cautiously.

Her vigilance made Shido chuckle. "Relax, Tohka. Nobody's attacking us. It's just…a normal crowded day."

Her pouting expression made Shido quickly console her with some food.

"Here, try this." he said, handing her a freshly baked Kinako bread.

"Shido! What is this?!" she asked excitedly before taking a big bite.

"It's Kinako bread."

After that, the date turned into a food adventure. Tohka dragged Shido from stall to stall, her eyes sparkling as she encountered new snacks and treats.

"Shido, what's this?"

"That's a Corndog."

"Shido, what's this?"

"That's takoyaki."

"Shido!"

"Shido!!"

"Shido!!!"

Shido was exhausted, but Tohka's enthusiasm was infectious. 

Tohka was happily munching on different kinds of food, hugging the snacks she planned to eat later. Her cheeks were adorably puffed as her mouth was stuffed full, making Shido feel a strong urge to poke them.

When Tohka finally settled down, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the park. They sat together on a bench, basking in the fading light.

"Shido, is this what a date is?" Tohka asked expectantly, finishing the last dumpling in her hand.

Shido turned to her, watching as she beamed from the joy of their day. Despite being utterly exhausted by her endless excitement, he found himself enjoying their time together.

"Well, you're not exactly wrong... but not quite right either." he replied, scratching his cheek awkwardly. He wasn't sure how to explain, especially since their whole day had mostly revolved around eating various snacks. His stomach felt so full that he was certain he'd regret it later.

"What?!" Tohka's eyes widened in shock. "So this wasn't a date? Then how much more delicious is a real date?!"

Her naive words and startled expression made Shido laugh. She really was innocent in the cutest way possible.

"Mooo! Shido, don't laugh at me!" Tohka stomped her foot in frustration, puffing her cheeks in indignation.

Shido couldn't help but laugh even harder at her antics, clutching his stomach.

"Hmph! I'm going to ignore you!" she declared with a pout, crossing her arms and looking away dramatically.

Shido wiped his eyes and finally stopped laughing. He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head to pat her. "Sorry, sorry... I wasn't making fun of you." he said sincerely.

"Hmph! I won't care about you anymore!" she huffed, but she made no effort to remove his hand. If anything, it seemed like she was enjoying his head pats. Shido could almost imagine an imaginary tail wagging happily behind her. The sight made him chuckle softly.

"Tohka." he began, his tone gentle, "a date is when two people go out together, eat together, maybe watch a movie, and have fun together." He explained it slowly, making sure she understood.

Tohka tilted her head toward him, her curiosity piqued. "So… this is a date?"

"Yes, this is a date." Shido confirmed with a small smile.

Tohka's eyes lit up with joy. "Oh, so this is a date! I like dates, Shido."

"Me too." he replied, his smile growing as he watched her happiness.

But Tohka suddenly seemed to remember something, her expression turning crestfallen. "But... we didn't watch a movie..."

Shido smiled gently and reassured her. "Well, we can go on another date and watch a movie then."

"Really? I can't wait!" Tohka's excitement returned in full force, and her radiant smile was contagious.

Seeing her cheerful once more, Shido felt warmth swell in his chest. But her next question almost made him slap his forehead.

"But... what's a movie?" she asked innocently, tilting her head.

Shido couldn't help but laugh wryly. "W-Well, you'll see next time." 

Tohka seemed satisfied with his answer and nodded. She then leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Together, they watched the sunset in comfortable silence.

The orange hues of the setting sun bathed them in a romantic light, and the serene atmosphere seemed to draw them closer.

"Shido..." Tohka murmured softly, her head still resting on his shoulder.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone just as gentle.

"I enjoyed our date." she said with a shy smile.

"I'm glad. I had fun too." Shido replied warmly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Mnn." Tohka hummed in agreement. A moment later, she spoke again. "Shido..."

"What is it?" he asked again, his attention now fully on her.

Tohka hesitated for a moment before turning to face him, her cheeks tinged with pink. "I'm glad I met you." she said, her voice quivering slightly.

Shido shifted his gaze to meet hers, his expression softening. "I'm glad I met you too, Tohka." he said earnestly.

The two locked eyes, and an unspoken connection seemed to flow between them. Slowly, they leaned closer to each other. Neither hesitated, their faces drawing nearer until their lips met.

"Mnn..."

As the sun set below the horizon, its warm light cast a tender glow over them. Their shadows intertwined on the ground, marking the moment of their shared kiss in the most romantic way possible.

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I'll edit the stats later.✨